Space Water: Meeting Global Challenges in the 21st Century!

Transcription

1 Space Water: Meeting Global Challenges in the 21st Century! ISDC 2014 May 16, 2014 W. Kent Tobiska, Space Environment Technologies 1!

2 WHAT MOTIVATES US? Escalating Climate Crisis Creates Fresh Water Challenges Reduced water Western U.S. a) Increasing urban and agricultural demands are even now not being met b) No Water No Work 4000 farmers and laborers march for water in Central California San Joaquin Valley (04/2009) Increased flooding Mississippi Basin a) Increasingly severe storms will result in more flooding in U.S. Mid West, including during winter b) North Dakota flooding example (03/2009) 2!

3 WHAT MOTIVATES US? Challenges Linked to Technology Issues Clean energy & power grid upgrades How to reduce carbon footprint, develop alternative energy, upgrade the U.S. power grid Water management needs a) More fresh water for Western U.S. b) More flood management in Central U.S. c) Manage rising sea levels along all U.S. coastal areas (thawing of six huge Antarctic glaciers has passed the point of no return) 3!

4 SPACE DEVELOPMENT MUST HELP SOLVE TERRESTRIAL PROBLEMS Energy and Water Management Develop space systems o Monitor & observe global climate change from space o Utilize new power sources (Solar Power Satellites) Protect space systems o Debris active monitoring & mitigation (LEO to GEO) o Space weather active monitoring & forecasting (GEO surface charging & deep-dielectric discharge from charged particles, LEO drag from neutral atmosphere, communication & navigation disruptions from ionosphere variability) 4!

5 Space Assets can Solve Terrestrial Problems Line of Reasoning Escalating climate crisis is resulting in severe, world-wide fresh water shortages Western U.S. is already experiencing reduced water & increasing demand that provokes water resource competition Coastal seawater desalination is a proven concept and can be a source for urban and agricultural water supplies if its associated large energy requirements can be effectively met Offshore oil & gas platforms are already using small scale seawater desalination for personnel and equipment use California coastal platforms are being considered for recommissioning at the end of their productive lives 5!

6 Space Water! SET and Ohio University: 2009 concept The Benefits of Space Water ISDC 2014!!!!Tobiska!! 6!

7 Space Water Implementation Existing Needs o Agency coordination (DoD/NSSO, DoC/NOAA, DoI/MMS, DoE, NASA, NSF, EPA) o Legislative action at state and federal levels o Funding from government, industry, academia, investors o Commercial demonstration of technologies Notional schedule (it always takes longer) o technical/policy/economic studies o component design, demo, implementation o prototype system construction o space water demonstration 7!

8 Some technology tentpoles Environments o End-to-end energy loss from collector and transmitter through atmosphere and receiver, including thermosphere to troposphere atmospheric effects/losses o Surface charging design, specification, forecasting, and management on large-scale solar arrays at GEO for lifetime guarantees o Radiation environment (GCRs, SEPs, outer belt) design, specification, forecasting, and management on vehicles for lifetime guarantees o What to do with a lot of sludge after desalination? 8!

9 BACKUP SLIDES 9!

10 Space Assets can Solve Terrestrial Problems Proposals Industrial-scale fresh water production facilities can be built on re-commissioned oil & gas coastal platforms Localized alternative energy on oil platforms can provide partial power for daytime seawater desalination Large-scale fresh water production will require 24/7 operations and needs a significant localized power source Solar power transmitted from orbiting satellites can augment both day and night power generation at platforms One GEO satellite can provide ~2 MW power for desalination using clean energy & providing coastal fresh water to meet the daily requirements for a population of 50,000 10!

11 Space Water! The Space Water Chain Increasingly scarce fresh water! jeopardizes agricultural and urban areas.! Fresh water can be produced by desalination facilities on converted oil platforms! using clean energy transmitted to platforms from solar power satellites (SPS).! ISDC 2014!!!!Tobiska!! 11!

12 The Benefits of Space Water Globally o Legacy of a clean, no-carbon energy footprint for centuries o Solution for global fresh water production o Economic growth from new energy and water resources Nationally o Clean energy source for water production and electricity o Energy and water independence at forward military bases o Global leadership for developing 21 st Century space assets 12!

13 The Benefits of Space Water Regionally o Potentially unlimited fresh water for Southern California o Aerospace, energy, water, & agriculture sector jobs created Industrially o Water, power, and mineral industries new resources o Oil & gas platform owners lease revenues o Aerospace industry access to space motivator o Farming water means jobs 13!